Kyle Schwarber plans to be a full-time left fielder — not a DH: 'I always take pride in my defense'

Kyle Schwarber’s 2018 defensive improvements were immediately forgotten last week when speculation surfaced about the National League eventually adopting the designated hitter and saddling the Cubs’ left-handed slugger with that role.

“I always take pride in my defense,” Schwarber said Monday after shagging flies in left field and hitting balls to all fields with authority — one week before the Cubs’ first full-squad workout.

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“Last year I made good strides out there. A lot of valuable stuff was learned from (coach) Will Venable and all of our fielders, and I’ve got to transfer that over to this year and take in more information from them and learn as much as I can. The more I can pay attention and watch those guys, the better I can get.”

Improved mobility, the result of considerable weight loss, helped Schwarber record 11 outfield assists last year — tying him for second in the NL, one behind speedy center fielder Billy Hamilton (now with the Royals). Schwarber also was credited with two defensive runs saved.

He also earned playing time by raising his batting average 27 points (to .238) and his on-base percentage by 41 points (to .358). He had the ninth-highest pitches seen per plate appearance at 4.19.

Yet Schwarber’s potential is clouded by projections that he would become a DH, which wouldn’t happen until at least the 2020 season and perhaps not until after 2021, when the collective bargaining agreement expires.

“It is what it is, but I know what I want to do — and that’s to be a solid everyday left fielder and go up to the plate and try to make a difference. That’s how I try to approach it.”

With gradual success, the left-handed-hitting Schwarber, 25, may receive more opportunities to improve. Unless Steven Brault wins the fifth spot in the Pirates’ rotation, none of the Cubs’ NL Central rivals will have a left-hander in their starting rotation. Schwarber hit 25 of his 26 home runs off right-handers last season.

Schwarber, who looks as lean as he did last spring, expressed the need for the Cubs to set an aggressive tone early — especially after they blew a five-game lead with 28 games left last season. That gave the division to the Brewers, and the Cubs’ stay in the playoffs lasted one game as they were knocked out by the Rockies in the NL wild-card game.

“It’s going to set the tone of the way we want to approach our spring training, the way we want to work,” he said. “But it’s a whole new year. We’ve got goals we want to accomplish, and we’ll put our best foot forward.”

The tone started three and a half weeks ago at the Cubs Convention, where teammates exchanged thoughts on how to make amends for their abrupt elimination from the postseason.

“Guys are really pumped to get out here and get going,” Schwarber said. “And once we get out here, it’s going to be fun. … We’re going to prepare ourselves for Game 1 in Texas (on March 28) and be ready to go from there.”